Editor's Note

The Capitol is gearing up for the expected release of Gov. Jerry Brown’s May Budget Revise next week. Cities will be especially watching for any modifications to the Department of Finance’s proposal to change the redevelopment dissolution process. In the Assembly, just one League Hot Bill will be heard, AB 35 that would provide funding for affordable housing, an important resource for cities after the redevelopment dissolution. The League’s full 2015 Hot and Priority Bill list is available online.

Local government officials frequently hear a great deal about the benefits of transparency from the Legislature and are expected to comply with the Brown Act, Public Records Act and other laws. However, the Assembly’s Budget Subcommittee #6 on Budget Process, Oversight and Program Evaluation action on Thursday, May 7 to dispose of Assembly Constitutional Amendment 1 (ACA 1) quietly by placing it a “suspense file” reveals a lack of Legislative interest in limiting their ability to take rapid and less-transparent legislative actions.

This story is part of an ongoing series featuring Helen Putnam Award entries. The 2014 entries are available on the League’s website as a resource for cities in a searchable database called California City Solutions. Azusa’s English Lessons for a Healthy Life program was submitted in 2014 for the Health and Wellness Programs award category.

The California Transportation Commission (CTC), in consultation with the California State Transportation Agency Secretary, has formed a 15-member Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) in response to the enactment of SB 1077 (DeSaulnier, 2014).